The EU4Environment programme hosted an online event with over 100 people to discuss opportunities that the circular economy offers for industrial development and job creation. The participants included representatives of Government bodies (including the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources) to international organizations, local authorities, members of the private sector, and NGOs. They discussed how businesses in Azerbaijan and the European Union benefit from becoming ‘greener’ and how the EU4Environment could support new growth and employment opportunities. The event was conducted on 13 August 2021 in conjunction with the “Circular Economy and New Growth Opportunities” Component of the programme. EU4Environment was initiated and is funded by the European Union in order to enable a green transformation in the Eastern Partnership.
“With the help of the EU4Environment Action and UNIDO, important steps are taken in the direction of Circular Economy. As such, important documents are being drafted on this topic, as well as on greening activities within coastal areas, and on resource efficiency and the prevention of environmental pollution. Within this event, the primary objective of this project is to promote the use of resources in an efficient and effective way among SMEs. Economic growth and economic development must go hand in hand with tackling environmental issues, said Mr. Faig Mutallimov, Head of Subdivision of Regulation of Usage of Water Resources, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources
The European Union is stepping up climate and environmental action. With the European Green Deal, we aim at improving the well-being and health of people and transforming the EU into a more resource-efficient and competitive economy. A similar growth strategy can benefit Azerbaijan too. EU4Environment is a means for supporting Azerbaijan to link its priorities with our shared climate and environmental goals. In this process, SMEs are important players and can increase their environmental and economic performance due to EU support, said, Mr. Victor Bojkov, Head of Cooperation, Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Azerbaijan
On the side of the manufacturing sector, it was particularly useful for the participants to learn about the advantages pilot regions can have when implementing Industrial Waste Maps as their first step towards introducing the practices and principles of Circular Economy. Participating business representatives were also offered new perspectives to understand the concept of resource efficiency and cleaner production and encouraged to seek opportunities for collaboration and knowledge sharing.
The UNIDO mandate, focusing on Inclusive and Sustainable Industrial Development, is to make industries not only profitable within the economy, but also less harmful for the environment. In particular, we are promoting Circular Economy as the means to close the loops within manufacturing enterprises in terms of goods, processes, and services. According to the recent IPCC Climate Report, we need to consider that working with Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs), which are the backbone of the economy of many countries, is the way to achieve a better environment and prevent drastic climate change, said Tatiana Chernyavskaya, International Coordinator, Directorate for Environment and Energy, UNIDO
Lastly, the information meeting concluded by presenting planned activities, and next steps envisaged by the EU4Environment Action to help Azerbaijani enterprises better embrace and benefit from the RECP methodology.
The online event was live-streamed on the page of the Delegation of the EU to Azerbaijan and can be conveniently watched at any given time.